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Big Feastival: A sheaf of music and food down on Alex James' farm

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by Tim Hughes, Features and Music Editor

POP stars, TV personalities and top chefs will join 20,000 fun-seekers on a West Oxfordshire farm this weekend for what must surely be the country’s most rarefied music festival.

Alex James, bassist with the Brit Pop band Blur, throws open the gates of his 200-acre farm at Kingham, near Chipping Norton, today, for the start of his Big Feastival – the annual celebration of food and music he co-hosts with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Now in its fourth year, the Feastival has grown from an intimate two-day gathering of 10,000 people, to a three-day festival attracting twice that number and with a line-up which rivals many of the country’s biggest festivals.

There will also be presentations by hosts Mr Oliver and Mr James – who as well as running a farm and performing occasional sets with Blur, has launched his own acclaimed range of cheeses.

There will also be appearances by children’s TV personalities Justin Fletcher and Mr Bloom, and BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, who brings along animals from his Cotswold Farm Park, near Stow-on-the-Wold.

“The Big Feastival occupies a really great niche in terms of its size,” says Mr James, a father of five.

“We have great music and food and are a fantastic day out for families. That’s what I care about and that’s what motivates me. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

He adds: “My farm is a big fountain of joy and everybody who comes finds something they love about it. It’s a really beautiful part of the world.

“It’s been hard work to make something work, and takes 12 months to make it come together, but now we can just let it happen.

“Jamie and I have nine kids between us, and it’s not the easiest job to be doing, but it’s about all the things I love – and you have a good idea it will pay off.

“I enjoy it so much and am really looking forward to it.”

The Big Feastival runs from today to Sunday. Day and weekend tickets are available at jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival or on the gate. Camping tickets have sold out.

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